Hey everyone!! I noticed a common mistake that people make and I want to highlight it. Below, "Elvis Dumpster Dining" mentioned that his 6 volt golf cart batteries provide 190 amp hours, and that 4 of them provide around 800 amp hours. This is plain wrong! This is a common math mistake that I have been seeing a lot lately, and I really need to clear it up here. Below is his comment, and below that is my response: Elvis Dumpster Dining Philip O'Rourke - I bought 4 - 6 volt - 190 amp hour- agm- golf cart batteries from sams club for $170 each. Total capacity is around 800 amp hours which gives me 400 amp hours (%50). I've never been without power and they agm batteries work like a charm. High-tec and Frugal RV Travels with Will Prowse Ok huge problem with what Elvis is saying here. When you buy a 6 volt, 190 amp hour battery, you need to cut it in half to determine its amp hour rating at 12 volts. Example: A 100 amp hour 6 volt battery will give 50 amp hour at 12 volts If you have 2x 100 amp hour 6 volt batteries, they will deliver 100 amp hours, when wired in series at 12 volts. The amp hour rating changes when you change the voltage So this means that Elvis's battery bank is 380 amp hours. Because they are lead acid batteries, he has a usable capacity of 190 amp hours. Using 50% depth of discharge is a bad idea. There is a large chance that Elvis is not using his batteries to a full 50%. To increase life of the batteries, he should only discharge to 70%, which means that the usable amp hour rating of his battery bank is around 60 amp hours!!! Not 380 amp hours! Simple math just saved the day!! 6 volt batteries are not a better deal. I made this same math mistake about 6 years ago. Anywho, check out my website to see what I recommend for lithium batteries.
+Will Prowse I think anybody who buys Deep Cycle batteries are going to run them down to 50% on a regular basis to get the most out of them. That is how they are normally used. So I don't know why you are talking about just 70 or 80%. That is unrealistic. Maximum battery life is not as important as useful battery life. If I had AGM Deep Cycles, I would run them down to at least 33% since they are capable of as low as 25%, or 20% as you stated. So what if they only last 3 to 5 years? They don't need to last forever. It's much more important to have the power that you need.
But also, I thought AGM or the lead-acid battery has about 50% usable energy vs lithium have 80%. Which makes 100AH lead acid is about the same as 60AH Lithium?
@@Colaaah I have no idea what you mean by, my end point doesn't really flow from where I began. What is that supposed to mean? I did factor in recharge cycles. What do you think I meant by, "So what if they only last 3 to 5 years"? What do you think that is referring to?
I was just thinking "surely no one would comment on his gorgeous eyes in this video about batteries" and sure enough, right at the top, there you are! Glad I'm not the only one who had some trouble paying attention, lol
I think the big reason people go with sealed lead acid batteries is because most people are starting from nothing. and adding Lithium to the price of panels, wiring, controller and inverter would price them right out of going solar. So, when they need batteries the next time around they only need to buy batteries because they have everything else! Love your videos!
I just pulled the trigger on a 100ah Lithium ( LiFePO4) battery for my RV. Very expensive but after a lot of research and looking at battery technology it is the best battery for your dollar! The battery I got has a built in BMS system and it charges much like an AGM battery but it doesn't require an absorption or float charges. I also ended up getting a high-quality inverter charger that can be adjusted to charge the battery properly. Also spent some money on pure copper 0 gauge cable to wire the inverter charger! I should make an install video, it is going to be a huge upgrade for the vehicle.
James Morrin so i can't just use the same 3 stage converter that's built into my 2015 Keystone Outback Terrain? I'm currently using two Trojan 6volt T-145 wired to make single 12 volt and trying to figure out which Lithiums and how to replace properly. Thanks
Appreciate how you don't waste time with extra words, instantly getting down to business, no hemming and hawing and uuhhhing. A lot of video makers think we're here to be entertained instead of educated. Good on ya!
You can get led AGM batteries that is rated at 1500 cycles at 1/4 the cost of Lithium here in Norway making the claims that Lithium is cheaper at least partially wrong... You can also get gel led acid type batteries for solar power that also has high rating of cycles without the 4 double cost of Lithium. The real advantage of Lithium is the low weight which is not really a issue for a battery bank in a house.
From your videos I could see you fitting in well in the 1980s & 1990s as well too. Of course the present suits your creativity and intellect quite well. I'm considerably older than you but am really enjoying and getting a lot out of your videos.
I worked for the USAF at Edwards AFB in CA. We serviced F-16, F-22, F-35, and other airframe batteries. The biggest change and a great one for efficiency cost and other factors was when the USAF went to lithium batteries. I saw first hand the size and weight difference and the reduced maintenance expense. The older lead acid batteries were labor pigs with terrible capacity. Our F-35 battery is a beast being a lithium with 345 volt capacity. Knowing batteries is one reason I bought a Yeti 1400. It’s about 45 pounds compared to its predecessor which was 105 pounds. I wanted an off the shelf unit for earthquake prone CA. The Goal Zero unit gives me that. Costly but very well made. They are on sale now at Amazon for $1399.
was looking to buy 2x 120ah lead batteries around 620 NZ dollars but after watching this will buy 1x 100ah lithium around same cost, and look to buy another down the track..... thanks for breaking it all down for us newbs... life saver
I have a small Solar Power Station on our Shed Roof. he Array is 560 Watts Rated- which means at this latitude, I'm getting 4-450 Watts we can actually use. The Battery being fed is a Bio-Enno Power 100 Amp 12 Volt LiFePO4. I'm using a 20 Amp MPPT Controller DESIGNED for that Battery, and a 600 Watt Samlex PURE sine inverter. We Spent about $3,000.00 Total on his system to get our feet wet, as it were. We have had ZERO issues with this system thus far! At present, we're using it to Run the Home entertainment system, the Ham Radio Station, keep all our personal electronic devices charged, and 12 Volt L.E.D's light the entire house. We can't run the fridge, Range, or the Laundry (YET!), and we Heat the home with an off-grid Kerosene Heater. Our Summer Electric Bills HAVE been as low as !8.00 a Month, in Winter, under $50.00 a Month. This has been the norm for us for the past Two Years. Its the stuff that generates HEAT that robs our Wallets! Our Goal wen the wife retires is to move to an area with 300+ Sun Days per year, put up a 6 KW Solar Array. and a 1,000 Amp Lithium Battery Bank....10,000 Watt Hours of Storage, OH, YEAH!
I just had this discussion yesterday. Another benefit of the lithium over lead acid is you do not have to fully charge the lithium battery once you start that cycle. With the Lead acid it is recommended to fully charge them to 100% once you begin the charge cycle. It is not always an easy task if you dont have shore hook ups and the sun is going down. I have an Aims 24 volt 3000w inverter that does not support lithium with 1000 watt solar array. If I knew a year ago what I know now, lithium would be in my camper instead of the AGMs, along with a different inverter. Good to see your on top of this info!
For a young cool dude you are awesome. I'm the other end of the age scale with my girlfriend and we are 110% sold on Lithium Batteries. We've put two in an old Mercedes SLK that has been customized to do a round the world trip, the last job was to choice our power source, so we've gone down the Lithium root and next stage are the solar panels to power up when in the middle of know where. I can't thank you enough for such a great video, clear and simple to understand. We wish you all the best for a great life, thanks from the UK across the pond, Husky and my cool girl
My latest book on RV and Van solar power is a best seller on amazon!! It will teach anyone how to build their own solar power system. Check it out here: amzn.to/2qdzaGJ
I agree with much of what you said but it is still a HUGE chunk of cash up front. A lot of people have been posting videos also saying they are not getting life span as advertised even Tecnomadia reports loss of capacity after 3 years of use. Weight and maintenance would be the biggest benefit I think but not capacity for the dollar in a RV. Solar, generator and just driving can replenish a well balance system rather quickly for many years without huge investment. Don't get me wrong Its great technology but for me the cost needs to come way down. Good video Will Thumbs up.
BlackTop Boondocker Thank you, makes sense. Lithium is fine for the Home Depot Ryobi drills and weed wackers, but for bigger stuff they are so costly. Even just to purchase a 7.5 lithium battery for the Ego blower costs like 350 bucks.
I'm not disagreeing with you, but your comment raised a question in my mind. Did the people who claimed only three years of use know how many charge/discharge cycles the batteries had been through when they started noticing issues? RV'er's use more power than they realize. Their batteries could easily have been through 1,000 or more cycles without them realizing it. One thing I WILL agree with is that the cost of this technology DOES need to come down!
GBS has lithium batteries at 12 volt and 100ah for less then 600 bucks but it has no BMS. However , many people bottom balance them really well and check them time to time , once every year and they never need to be balance. I took mine down to 8.9 volts one time and brought it back to life. it still works just as good.
Your good statement for Lithium-Ion are the cheaper way to in the long run. As of Lithium-Iron Phosphate will do double amount charging cycles than Lithium-Ion. Average people always look at the small picture; "so Lithium battery cost way too much!" One of the big picture you're looking at is about both Lithium-ion and LiFePO4 battery will properly deliver at very high demand of power. As lead acid battery has faded and fading power as you're demanding more power.
If you have a camper van and you go on a trip a few times a year, you do not need lithium at all because you do not use it as much. If you do like 30 to 50 cycles a year, you are good to go with SLA.
All led batteries sealed or not give off fumes when being charged it's why they all have a vent.It's also why I always shake my head at people having these inside a van or trailer they made into an RV Great video
very true. but the sealed ones do not gas unless they are used improperly. most rv's have battery storage areas, or plastic battery containers, that do work well. ventilation is always required
the way to get cheap batteries go buy a hybrid pack from the salvage yard and buy a bms for the cells and then you come way cheaper even if used but off the shelf 800 to 1200 dollars is a lot of money those who are on a budget.
you can buy bms modules on ebay and amazon. the hybrid battery can be had at car-part dot com at most salavge yards. before you spend money research possible configurations on the styles of battery you plan to buy.
Here is something that puzzles me. Tesla claims that they are close to producing lithium batteries for around $100. per kw hour. Also saw another story that LG is selling 2 kw hour lithium batteries to Chevrolet for about $150. per KW hour. Just for reference a 100 amp 12 volt batter is about 1.2 kw hour or close to a useful 1 kw hour. I understand that large volume users have an advantage, but it seems that small users are being taken to the cleaners and prices will drop drastically soon.
You have been very helpful since the companies are ripping people off here in Puerto Rico. You should see the calamity they are creating down here. Looking forward to buy your book. Thanks.
Someone needs to make an app for battery capacity that lets you know when it gets near the voltage you set. Just a little alarm that beeps on your phone. I'm not sure how complex that would be but I'm sure everyone that uses solar like this would get it. I'm thinking about situations were you left something on and didn't know it and this will protect your batteries.There may be some such device already. If there is please let us know. Thanks for the effort you put in.
How does an SLA do when constantly connected to a smart charger to keep it maintained, yet the battery is rarely discharged more than 10%? The system is for emergency communications system. Actually uses 35ah SLA (surprisingly the 35ah batteries were less per ah than larger batteries). The system is predominantly used for 12-13v use, but does have a 1200w inverter connected. Thoughts? Will a smaller sized setup (approx 200ah total with 200w solar) be a good long term setup in this situation? FYI....there IS a battery management system that maintains the SLA batteries, including shutdown if voltage goes above or below as specified amount
Actually Will, about charging efficiency, it depends on state of charge: if you are below 50% SOC, then you get 85-90% charging efficiency, while being close to 70-80% SOC like you said, charging efficiency could drop to as much as 50-60% efficiency depending on environmental conditions.
Will, you are my Undisputed SOURCE for Electrical Knowledge ! That being said, there is So Much Info, it becomes .... (confusing). So, despite having an Extremely Limited Budget, you’ve convinced me to go Lithium. My Question: which of your Library of vids would be recommended for viewing to create my “Best Bang For The Buck On Limited Budget System” .... ?? Thanks so much !
I have a question. I can barley find info on this but what I do find is interesting. What I am talking about are Silicone Dioxide Batteries or lead Crystal batteries. Are these batteries a good alternative to lithium batteries at half the cost. Looking forward to hearing your prospective on this.
A BOOK??? I need this immediately! My panels have been sitting in my living-room since November and I am finally starting to feel more confident to install. A Will Prowse solar bible to guide the way!?!?......come on dude, I gotta have it!
+Kicks Tar Travel van I was thinking about calling it a solar bible! Haha! It will cover everything. Step by step. Much needed for vehicle dwellers. I am writing it right now and am at 50 pages :)
High-tec and Frugal RV Travels with Will Prowse you will have much success from your book, I am certain! #EverthingIEverLearnedAboutSolar #ILearnedFromWillProwse
Great vid thanks! I am thinking of swapping my batteries for lithium. One question, my volt meter shows me the charge level of my batteries, how do I tell the charge level of a lithium?
I'm running 760 watts of solar. If I had lead acid batteries I would need four 100 amp hour batteries. That would be about 400 pounds. I have two battleborn 100 amp hour lithium batteries combined weight of 60 lb. Consider that also consider the charge rate is much faster with a 40 amp charge controller these lithium batteries can be taken from 20% to 100% in about 4 hours of sunlight. That would never happen with lead acid or flooded batteries. If you take a lead acid battery down to 50% you're going to spend 8 hours with a generator trying to get him to top off
Man you know your stuff! Question, will a 100w 12v panel charge a 100ah lithium battery enough to run 24/7? Im using about a 50watt appliance. Thanks!!
Hey Will can you make a suggestion as to which would be the best lithium batteries to purchase for a solar system which gives the best value for dollars spent ?
+ruckuss12000 ruckuss currently if you want a drop in replacement, battle born is best price for lithium iron phosphate. There are other options, but battle born has great safety features and just works. I have them on my website
SimpliPhi’s batteries offer the lowest levelized cost of energy (price per kWh) due to 98% efficiency, no cobalt, high depth of discharge, 10k cycles or 10 year warranty. For info on where to buy: simpliphipower.com/where-to-buy/. We have been around since 2002 & have outperformed the US Marine Corps’ battery tests. Deployed in 22+ countries to date. Since we don’t use cobalt, our batteries are some of the safest, most efficient batteries on the market. No additional costs to prevent thermal runaway or fire (associated with cobalt, which we don’t use, unlike LG Chem & Tesla) such as cooling or ventilation systems. We keep it simple, safe & efficient. :-)
I just watched a guy talk about how lead acid is more affordable but yeah... 10 lead acid deep cycle batteries are only 900 before tax while lithium tends to be around 3500 before tax so there really is a price difference there. The point you made about not allowing the batteries to fall below 70% is a strong point though; it might actually only be worth getting lead acid if that's all you could afford at the time....
Hey, Will (or anyone knowledgeable), how can you determine the maximum discharge rate of any of these batteries (lead acid or lithium ion)? You talked about it at 3:20. I have been unable to find that info. I want to know what I can safely run off my RV batteries. Thanks!
Thanks for the video. I got my hands on some (6) used 12v 18ah 13amp batteries along with two of the same but 26 amps. I want to use them to test backup lights and stuff. Any amazon 12 volt charger will do?
I have followed you for a few years now, I have several lithium all in one systems (Bluetti 150) but I would like to know what AGM deep cycle battery do you recommend ???
I have heard that a few people are buying Used Lithium batteries for much cheaper than brand new ones. Since they have a very long life cycle is this not a sound tactic to pursue ? I am new to this Solar Power Generator and I feel that Will Prowse provides the best info of the socalled VanLife Rv Nomadic movement channels on TH-cam. Thanks Will for your knowledge.
Ok, I paid 150 dollars for my new Trojan 6 volt, T-145 flooded battery. Got to shop around. Got em in Michigan. I got two for my travel trailer and wired as one 12 volt battery. What's the cost for equivalent Lithium ion ones? What's the best brand to get? GreenLife, NextGen, or EarthX ??. I always thought Lithium ion batteries were better. Sealed lead acid batteries are ancient technology. Got lithiums with my Ego brand blowers. Ego company in Michigan. Another important topic is the clear, non- metal propane tanks for RVs. Thx
Oh also can I still use a Lithium with my VSR split charger? I am thinking with the volts not dropping it may not disconnect from the van battery? Cheers dude
i’m so new to all these concepts but i heard about explosions with lithium - from cell phones to electric bikes to teslas - you didn’t speak to safety issues at all- is there a video you have or can do for that? including. how to avoid it - im terrified now of having it in my car while i’m in the car or whatever but is it only potentially dangerous when it’s charging? i love your videos - you’re my top two favorite on this subject
I have 100 watt 12v solar panel on the roof of my van I would like to charge this with that puts out about 5a in direct sunlight. I need to use the battery for about 3a 12v during the day and about 2a 12v (10pm to 6a) at night. I also have a 12v cigarette lighter socket in the back of my van that is only on while I drive I would also like to charge this with. What do i need to smart charge a battery like this from BOTH of these sources without needing a manual switch? And while asking, is it possible to charge a bettary like this directly from a car alternator? If so, how?
great info. thanks a lot by the way, i need to know where to find a tesla battery solar charger tracker 5 there old web site does not operate u have any suggestions.
@@WillProwse what is a BMS? I am not at all an expert but am under the impression that lithium batteries are pretty fragile to some things, temperature in particular.
Hi Will, interesting video. I came here to determine if I should put a lead acid or Lithium battery in my campervan for my solar charging. You convinced me to buy a lithium allready but i was just wandering how sensitive are the lithium batteries to overheating. I'm asking because i have a black van and we'll probably be driving through hot environments to. Thanks!
Hey guys, I have a 2000 watt jupiter modified sine wave inverter with a 4000 w peak with a 100 ah wiez gel lead acid battery. I have a 100/50 victron charge controller with 400 watts of solar. Can I exchange the 100ah lead acid battery i have,, with a 100 ah "ampere time" lithium 12 v battery? I need to know before I spend all that money. I hope it will run my 2000 watt inverter. The most I plan to use is a little 500 watt air conditioner. And I don't even have that yet, I just use 2 fans for now that use up about 100 watts continuous. Any replies would help, thanks guys! 🙏❤❤❤❤
Deep cycle batteries maintain voltage in cold and hot environments. You can easily hook an electronic charger system to a battery bank. because of the lower cost, you can also load balance the cells. The only advantage of lipo batteries is weight if you are traveling, and led acid can be sourced locally without relying on the military industrial complex bombing countries for their lithium. Lithiums cost savings is paid for in blood.
when I get a newer van ill probably go with lithium just for the space and weight savings. also wanted to point out that you can safely discharge LiFePo4 to 20% remaining, not 0% remaining. still much better than lead acid of course, but they arent bullet proof, and the rated cycles alone makes them worth the extra cash. my question is can they be safely charged off a 14(ish) volt supply as thats what most lead acid batteries charge at.(for split charge relays and standard mppt solar controllers)
+Andrew's Life In A Tiny Van usually the BMS prevents true 0% discharge. Usually the end point is set at 20%. So it depends. And most plug and plug lithium batteries can easily take that voltage. Lead acid battery chargers and charge controllers work with these all plug and play type lithium batteries. Now if you make your own, I don't know. Depends on voltage of system, and charge circuit
High-tec and Frugal RV Travels with Will Prowse | ok didn't realise that the bms would act as a 20% cutoff. good to know that they're compatible with standard lead battery chargers too
I'm interested in buying an old Tesla S Battery Module, they sell on eBay for around $1300 and are 250ah and 5KW worth of energy. I need to figure out how to wire one up.
I've been watching all your videos and love them. I cant find a definitive answer on one question. What would you suggest if the ambient temperature of the battery averages 20°F? I have a pick up truck with a cap . 100 w solar panel on the cap, a battery mounted in the bed , and a relay hooked to my starter battery (I did just purchase the Renogy 50A DC-DC battery charger with mppt) I do spend a lot of time traveling so my alternator does more charging but I do also spend time off grid at a cabin in northern michigan for 4-5 days at a time where it's cold. Trying to decide between the LiFeP04 or an AGM? Please help. I dont power anything that draws many amps.
I'm Clueless to this stuff. Have a 16" Starcraft, we spent 2-5 days in the middle of nowhere (led lights, camera/raidios charging & a propane heater fan) is about all we use. Can a Lithium Battery just be dropped in to replace a Led Acid? or is there other changes to be made? The current batt. is charged when the trailer is plugged in or when portable solar is connected to it.
What size of lithium battery do I need for a house that consumes 2 kWh per month? Could you advise me on all the equipment I need to supply the 2 kWh please.
+Nomadic Newfies usually. Most lithium battery banks are simply plug n play and can be used with lead acid battery chargers and solar charge controllers. But if you build your own battery, then it depends on what you are using.
Great To Know About The Comparison Of Lead Acid To Lithium Ion Batteries! The Only Drawback I See Is The Temperature Sensitivity Of The Lithium Battery. Otherwise Lithium Is The Way To Go! Question! When Will The Price Go Down For Lithium Batteries So It Will Be Economical For The Joe Blow Consumer Such As Myself? Otherwise Great Video!
Very informative... I share it with anyone that may be a bit confused when it comes to Lead acid vS Lithium iron phosphate batteries. IAm waiting and hoping lithium iron battery prices drop dramatically by next summer... don't need it now... Thankhz so much for sharing Will... Wholeness n Love ((-;
Hello, Will! you are great!!!!! glad you are out there. I might at some point actually sort of maybe maybe, understand about 10%. ha! I AM GOING TO EHRENBERG IN A MONTH OR SO SO I HAVE AQUESTION: i WANT TO USE ELECTRIC SKILLET AND COFFEE MAKER, (I.E. ALL ELECTRIC) 5K AIR CONDITIONING UNIT.....HOW MUCH DO I NEED IN SOLAR, BATTERIES, ETC? THX, TIKI AND ANYTHING ELSE YOU CAN ANSWER THAT I DON'T HAVE THE SENSE TO ASK.
Hey Will!! Bro! I was wondering if you could please help me with this, im about to make my next vid for my channel about connecting the BMV 712 volt meter and a lithium battery but dont want to burn out my camper lol so i have some questions ....: 1..can i connect my 100 amp hour Battle Born Battery to my Kodiak to charge it? I've heard i can just connect lead acid batteries to the Kodiak, but just wanted to triple check. Now since the answer is going to be no, keep reading... 2... i have four 122 amp hours lead batteries as my battery bank (ever ready deep cicle ) , i charge all of them with the kodiak when connected to solar, however when is super cloudy i disconnect the cable that comes from the panels and also disconnect my four lead acid batteries from the kodiak, and connect my camper to my gas generator and then from the outlets of the the camper i connect the kodiak so it can charge and i let my lead acid batteries charge with the charger that comes with the camper, you know, it charges the battery while is plugged to the generator,.... now the REAL REAL question here is... Can i connect the Battle born battery and my lead acid batteries directly to the camper and connect the Kodiak to the cables that you can connect to the truck to charge the batterie of the camper while the truck is on with the alternator,... but instead it will be connected to the positive and negative of the Kodiak so batteries can charge with my solar system...., idk if im explaining my self the right way lol. According to my logic, since the battle born battery will be conncted in parallel with my other 4 lead acid batteries,to the connection that comes from the charger of the camper i shouldn't have any problems connecting the Kodiak on the other end where you connect the car to charge the batteries because the lithium batteries and the other batteries they will not be directly connected to the Kodiak, but in between the kodiak and the battery bank will be the inverter of the camper.... Thanks man, ill be waiting for your advice!
Sure, store it in the living area so you can keep them warm. Lithium iron phosphate batteries are safe to store indoors. Check out the one on my website under battery banks
Dear will, I have few questions to you. Currently in have an 12v 1100va hybrid inverter, 12v 150w of 2panels (connected in parallel),12v 150ah tubular lead acid battery. The inverter is having pwm charge controller. Now after watching your videos, I want to replace the lead acid battery with a lifepo4(pack of 198ah,not prismatic). The nominal voltage of lifepo4 battery would be 12.8v(4s). Now the real problem is, the inverter having an dip switch selection in its backside for various options like 1)Battery type - TUB, SMF 2)Battery cut off voltage-10. 5v & 11.0v(+/-0.2v) 3)Battery charging amps-5, 10,15A(only for grid charging,not for solar) As per your experience, what would be the best setting? Currently for Tubular battery, during charging the maximum voltage obtained was 14.6v.Hence I'm thinking that 3.65*4=14.6, the pack will not get over charged. In future I will install an Epever 4210 along with 4 numbes of 24v/320w panels to the lifepo4 battery bank.
Kindly reply to my above question, I'm from India🇮🇳. Here lifepo4 battery & Epever charge controller are not available, need to be import along with high custom duties. Thinking for an fully offgrid system of 48v.but needs a lot of money (above 200K indian rupees/2.87K$) that I can't able to adjust.
I’m SO THANKFUL for your inspirations and contributions to the advances in learning solar and battery building. But,,,, Your book is outdated and you don’t disable videos that are outdated. The latest and best advances in solar design are currently dependent on LIPO batteries - LEAD IS DEAD! I love and respect you so much - Please retire these outdated videos so us “Newbies” don’t get mislead into learning outdated information. It’s already hard to figure out and we need someone we can TRUST to keep the most current info available. Remember, I love and respect you and appreciate all you’ve taught me already.
Appreciate how you don't waste time with extra words, instantly getting down to business, no hemming and hawing and uuhhhing. A lot of video makers think we're here to be entertained instead of educated. Good on ya!
Great informations.Ha,Ha...But he wearing a DuckTale Cartoon T shirt that bring me back to my late teen years in the 90s.I was laughing at first,because I saw and look at his talking presentation with the Duck Tale T shirt.
Hey everyone!! I noticed a common mistake that people make and I want to highlight it. Below, "Elvis Dumpster Dining" mentioned that his 6 volt golf cart batteries provide 190 amp hours, and that 4 of them provide around 800 amp hours. This is plain wrong! This is a common math mistake that I have been seeing a lot lately, and I really need to clear it up here.
Below is his comment, and below that is my response:
Elvis Dumpster Dining
Philip O'Rourke - I bought 4 - 6 volt - 190 amp hour- agm- golf cart batteries from sams club for $170 each. Total capacity is around 800 amp hours which gives me 400 amp hours (%50). I've never been without power and they agm batteries work like a charm.
High-tec and Frugal RV Travels with Will Prowse
Ok huge problem with what Elvis is saying here. When you buy a 6 volt, 190 amp hour battery, you need to cut it in half to determine its amp hour rating at 12 volts.
Example:
A 100 amp hour 6 volt battery will give 50 amp hour at 12 volts
If you have 2x 100 amp hour 6 volt batteries, they will deliver 100 amp hours, when wired in series at 12 volts.
The amp hour rating changes when you change the voltage
So this means that Elvis's battery bank is 380 amp hours. Because they are lead acid batteries, he has a usable capacity of 190 amp hours. Using 50% depth of discharge is a bad idea. There is a large chance that Elvis is not using his batteries to a full 50%. To increase life of the batteries, he should only discharge to 70%, which means that the usable amp hour rating of his battery bank is around 60 amp hours!!! Not 380 amp hours!
Simple math just saved the day!!
6 volt batteries are not a better deal. I made this same math mistake about 6 years ago. Anywho, check out my website to see what I recommend for lithium batteries.
exactly!!
+Will Prowse
I think anybody who buys Deep Cycle batteries are going to run them down to 50% on a regular basis to get the most out of them. That is how they are normally used. So I don't know why you are talking about just 70 or 80%. That is unrealistic. Maximum battery life is not as important as useful battery life. If I had AGM Deep Cycles, I would run them down to at least 33% since they are capable of as low as 25%, or 20% as you stated. So what if they only last 3 to 5 years? They don't need to last forever. It's much more important to have the power that you need.
RedRider1600 your end point doesn't really flow to/from where you began.
Factor in recharge cycles etc... Tooooooo!
🤔😎👍👌🍻😎🎼🎸
But also, I thought AGM or the lead-acid battery has about 50% usable energy vs lithium have 80%. Which makes 100AH lead acid is about the same as 60AH Lithium?
@@Colaaah
I have no idea what you mean by, my end point doesn't really flow from where I began. What is that supposed to mean?
I did factor in recharge cycles. What do you think I meant by, "So what if they only last 3 to 5 years"? What do you think that is referring to?
Dude, your eyes are mesmerizing!
I was just thinking "surely no one would comment on his gorgeous eyes in this video about batteries" and sure enough, right at the top, there you are! Glad I'm not the only one who had some trouble paying attention, lol
@@laizalott Mila Kunis eyes. 😁
I was gonna say
Your solar videos are hands down the best out there. So clear and concise. Thanks bud.
Thank you!!
@@WillProwse
I have also become an avid follower of your channel!
I think the big reason people go with sealed lead acid batteries is because most people are starting from nothing. and adding Lithium to the price of panels, wiring, controller and inverter would price them right out of going solar. So, when they need batteries the next time around they only need to buy batteries because they have everything else!
Love your videos!
I just pulled the trigger on a 100ah Lithium ( LiFePO4) battery for my RV. Very expensive but after a lot of research and looking at battery technology it is the best battery for your dollar! The battery I got has a built in BMS system and it charges much like an AGM battery but it doesn't require an absorption or float charges.
I also ended up getting a high-quality inverter charger that can be adjusted to charge the battery properly.
Also spent some money on pure copper 0 gauge cable to wire the inverter charger!
I should make an install video, it is going to be a huge upgrade for the vehicle.
+James Morrin you did it right!! Awesome!!
Ca you please share a buy link?
James Morrin so i can't just use the same 3 stage converter that's built into my 2015 Keystone Outback Terrain? I'm currently using two Trojan 6volt T-145 wired to make single 12 volt and trying to figure out which Lithiums and how to replace properly. Thanks
Mr. Morrin, you understand this EXACTLY. GOOD ON YOU!
Appreciate how you don't waste time with extra words, instantly getting down to business, no hemming and hawing and uuhhhing. A lot of video makers think we're here to be entertained instead of educated. Good on ya!
You can get led AGM batteries that is rated at 1500 cycles at 1/4 the cost of Lithium here in Norway making the claims that Lithium is cheaper at least partially wrong... You can also get gel led acid type batteries for solar power that also has high rating of cycles without the 4 double cost of Lithium. The real advantage of Lithium is the low weight which is not really a issue for a battery bank in a house.
Ordered 2 lithium 100 amp. I will have my wife watch this when she sees the charge card statement. Got your book, highly reccomend it.
From your videos I could see you fitting in well in the 1980s & 1990s as well too. Of course the present suits your creativity and intellect quite well. I'm considerably older than you but am really enjoying and getting a lot out of your videos.
Just installed 2kw of panels and 3.6kw inverter . I’m going with SLA purely for cost , I will go with lifepo next .
Keep it up. We need people like you. I know it's not easy what you are doing but we wish you the best, young man.
I worked for the USAF at Edwards AFB in CA. We serviced F-16, F-22, F-35, and other airframe batteries. The biggest change and a great one for efficiency cost and other factors was when the USAF went to lithium batteries. I saw first hand the size and weight difference and the reduced maintenance expense. The older lead acid batteries were labor pigs with terrible capacity. Our F-35 battery is a beast being a lithium with 345 volt capacity. Knowing batteries is one reason I bought a Yeti 1400. It’s about 45 pounds compared to its predecessor which was 105 pounds. I wanted an off the shelf unit for earthquake prone CA. The Goal Zero unit gives me that. Costly but very well made. They are on sale now at Amazon for $1399.
was looking to buy 2x 120ah lead batteries around 620 NZ dollars but after watching this will buy 1x 100ah lithium around same cost, and look to buy another down the track..... thanks for breaking it all down for us newbs... life saver
I have a small Solar Power Station on our Shed Roof. he Array is 560 Watts Rated- which means at this latitude, I'm getting 4-450 Watts we can actually use. The Battery being fed is a Bio-Enno Power 100 Amp 12 Volt LiFePO4. I'm using a 20 Amp MPPT Controller DESIGNED for that Battery, and a 600 Watt Samlex PURE sine inverter. We Spent about $3,000.00 Total on his system to get our feet wet, as it were.
We have had ZERO issues with this system thus far!
At present, we're using it to Run the Home entertainment system, the Ham Radio Station, keep all our personal electronic devices charged, and 12 Volt L.E.D's light the entire house. We can't run the fridge, Range, or the Laundry (YET!), and we Heat the home with an off-grid Kerosene Heater.
Our Summer Electric Bills HAVE been as low as !8.00 a Month, in Winter, under $50.00 a Month. This has been the norm for us for the past Two Years.
Its the stuff that generates HEAT that robs our Wallets!
Our Goal wen the wife retires is to move to an area with 300+ Sun Days per year, put up a 6 KW Solar Array.
and a 1,000 Amp Lithium Battery Bank....10,000 Watt Hours of Storage, OH, YEAH!
I just had this discussion yesterday. Another benefit of the lithium over lead acid is you do not have to fully charge the lithium battery once you start that cycle. With the Lead acid it is recommended to fully charge them to 100% once you begin the charge cycle. It is not always an easy task if you dont have shore hook ups and the sun is going down. I have an Aims 24 volt 3000w inverter that does not support lithium with 1000 watt solar array. If I knew a year ago what I know now, lithium would be in my camper instead of the AGMs, along with a different inverter. Good to see your on top of this info!
For a young cool dude you are awesome. I'm the other end of the age scale with my girlfriend and we are 110% sold on Lithium Batteries. We've put two in an old Mercedes SLK that has been customized to do a round the world trip, the last job was to choice our power source, so we've gone down the Lithium root and next stage are the solar panels to power up when in the middle of know where. I can't thank you enough for such a great video, clear and simple to understand. We wish you all the best for a great life, thanks from the UK across the pond, Husky and my cool girl
My latest book on RV and Van solar power is a best seller on amazon!! It will teach anyone how to build their own solar power system. Check it out here: amzn.to/2qdzaGJ
Love it! Great work!
I agree with much of what you said but it is still a HUGE chunk of cash up front. A lot of people have been posting videos also saying they are not getting life span as advertised even Tecnomadia reports loss of capacity after 3 years of use. Weight and maintenance would be the biggest benefit I think but not capacity for the dollar in a RV. Solar, generator and just driving can replenish a well balance system rather quickly for many years without huge investment. Don't get me wrong Its great technology but for me the cost needs to come way down. Good video Will Thumbs up.
+BlackTop Boondocker yeah that's absolutely true
BlackTop Boondocker Thank you, makes sense. Lithium is fine for the Home Depot Ryobi drills and weed wackers, but for bigger stuff they are so costly. Even just to purchase a 7.5 lithium battery for the Ego blower costs like 350 bucks.
I'm not disagreeing with you, but your comment raised a question in my mind. Did the people who claimed only three years of use know how many charge/discharge cycles the batteries had been through when they started noticing issues? RV'er's use more power than they realize. Their batteries could easily have been through 1,000 or more cycles without them realizing it. One thing I WILL agree with is that the cost of this technology DOES need to come down!
GBS has lithium batteries at 12 volt and 100ah for less then 600 bucks but it has no BMS. However , many people bottom balance them really well and check them time to time , once every year and they never need to be balance. I took mine down to 8.9 volts one time and brought it back to life. it still works just as good.
I am planning a new van and your solar info is really helping me go a good direction that will make life much better.
Awesome!
Your good statement for Lithium-Ion are the cheaper way to in the long run. As of Lithium-Iron Phosphate will do double amount charging cycles than Lithium-Ion. Average people always look at the small picture; "so Lithium battery cost way too much!" One of the big picture you're looking at is about both Lithium-ion and LiFePO4 battery will properly deliver at very high demand of power. As lead acid battery has faded and fading power as you're demanding more power.
Well explained, thanks for doing this, you convinced me to put Lithium in my RV!
Awesome!
If you have a camper van and you go on a trip a few times a year, you do not need lithium at all because you do not use it as much. If you do like 30 to 50 cycles a year, you are good to go with SLA.
All led batteries sealed or not give off fumes when being charged it's why they all have a vent.It's also why I always shake my head at people having these inside a van or trailer they made into an RV
Great video
very true. but the sealed ones do not gas unless they are used improperly. most rv's have battery storage areas, or plastic battery containers, that do work well. ventilation is always required
Yikes , even with ones that are made as sealed, that statement alone prompts me even more to consider lithium only.
Dude, THANK YOU, great and informative channel. Am amazed you were singing the virtues of Lithium nearly 4 years ago, well ahead of the curve.
Using my 12V/70Ah LiFeYPo4 for years. The BMS still pulls the same amount off power out as on the first day. So happy i decieded to go for Lithium
+bigfoot one that is so awesome
the way to get cheap batteries go buy a hybrid pack from the salvage yard and buy a bms for the cells and then you come way cheaper even if used but off the shelf 800 to 1200 dollars is a lot of money those who are on a budget.
This sounds like an awesome idea. Where do I get info on making this?
you can buy bms modules on ebay and amazon. the hybrid battery can be had at car-part dot com at most salavge yards. before you spend money research possible configurations on the styles of battery you plan to buy.
I listen to you kid! I learn a lot from your videos. Thank you
that was awesome. you have an exceptional talent for explaining this kind of stuff.
Thanks!!
Spud Bono he should be teaching at a school he seems to enjoy it.
Here is something that puzzles me. Tesla claims that they are close to producing lithium batteries for around $100. per kw hour. Also saw another story that LG is selling 2 kw hour lithium batteries to Chevrolet for about $150. per KW hour. Just for reference a 100 amp 12 volt batter is about 1.2 kw hour or close to a useful 1 kw hour.
I understand that large volume users have an advantage, but it seems that small users are being taken to the cleaners and prices will drop drastically soon.
Thank for this. I've decided on investing in one Lithium vs two deep cycle.
You have been very helpful since the companies are ripping people off here in Puerto Rico. You should see the calamity they are creating down here. Looking forward to buy your book. Thanks.
Someone needs to make an app for battery capacity that lets you know when it gets near the voltage you set. Just a little alarm that beeps on your phone. I'm not sure how complex that would be but I'm sure everyone that uses solar like this would get it. I'm thinking about situations were you left something on and didn't know it and this will protect your batteries.There may be some such device already. If there is please let us know. Thanks for the effort you put in.
TheNeverendingGory A BMS will do exactly that automatically for you.
@@Conservator. what is a BMS? I have no idea what that is.
Wow! Thanks for all of the info and links on lithium batteries. No way would I buy a lead acid battery after watching this video!
That’s great!
How does an SLA do when constantly connected to a smart charger to keep it maintained, yet the battery is rarely discharged more than 10%?
The system is for emergency communications system. Actually uses 35ah SLA (surprisingly the 35ah batteries were less per ah than larger batteries).
The system is predominantly used for 12-13v use, but does have a 1200w inverter connected.
Thoughts? Will a smaller sized setup (approx 200ah total with 200w solar) be a good long term setup in this situation?
FYI....there IS a battery management system that maintains the SLA batteries, including shutdown if voltage goes above or below as specified amount
I've been using your book to build my new system. Thanks!
My full first name is Braxton ... nice to meet ya... good luck with your solar panel setup 👍
this guy is a genius and plain simple video
Hey Will you are a plethora or easy to understand information making it interesting and doable!!! Good job my friend!!!
you are a fabulous young man with a great brain and fabulous presentation! thank you.
What lithium Ion Battery would you recommend for home off-grid solar?
great video explains in simple understandable form the huge difference between sealed lead acid and lithium..thank you
Actually Will, about charging efficiency, it depends on state of charge: if you are below 50% SOC, then you get 85-90% charging efficiency, while being close to 70-80% SOC like you said, charging efficiency could drop to as much as 50-60% efficiency depending on environmental conditions.
Will, you are my Undisputed SOURCE for Electrical Knowledge ! That being said, there is So Much Info, it becomes .... (confusing). So, despite having an Extremely Limited Budget, you’ve convinced me to go Lithium.
My Question: which of your Library of vids would be recommended for viewing to create my “Best Bang For The Buck On Limited Budget System” .... ?? Thanks so much !
I have a question. I can barley find info on this but what I do find is interesting. What I am talking about are Silicone Dioxide Batteries or lead Crystal batteries. Are these batteries a good alternative to lithium batteries at half the cost. Looking forward to hearing your prospective on this.
A BOOK??? I need this immediately! My panels have been sitting in my living-room since November and I am finally starting to feel more confident to install. A Will Prowse solar bible to guide the way!?!?......come on dude, I gotta have it!
+Kicks Tar Travel van
I was thinking about calling it a solar bible! Haha! It will cover everything. Step by step. Much needed for vehicle dwellers. I am writing it right now and am at 50 pages :)
High-tec and Frugal RV Travels with Will Prowse you will have much success from your book, I am certain! #EverthingIEverLearnedAboutSolar #ILearnedFromWillProwse
Thank you!!! :)
Great vid thanks! I am thinking of swapping my batteries for lithium. One question, my volt meter shows me the charge level of my batteries, how do I tell the charge level of a lithium?
How does this guy not have more views or subscribers?! what the hell?
Matt Carber I know will is great and he's not an ebegger like nomadic fanatic. yet nomadic fanatic has a zillion viewers.
Phil O Ok.. So there are a zillion idiots out htere! Lol!
I'm running 760 watts of solar. If I had lead acid batteries I would need four 100 amp hour batteries. That would be about 400 pounds. I have two battleborn 100 amp hour lithium batteries combined weight of 60 lb. Consider that also consider the charge rate is much faster with a 40 amp charge controller these lithium batteries can be taken from 20% to 100% in about 4 hours of sunlight. That would never happen with lead acid or flooded batteries. If you take a lead acid battery down to 50% you're going to spend 8 hours with a generator trying to get him to top off
Good info thanks
Man you know your stuff! Question, will a 100w 12v panel charge a 100ah lithium battery enough to run 24/7? Im using about a 50watt appliance.
Thanks!!
no
Hey Will can you make a suggestion as to which would be the best lithium batteries to purchase for a solar system which gives the best value for dollars spent ?
+ruckuss12000 ruckuss currently if you want a drop in replacement, battle born is best price for lithium iron phosphate. There are other options, but battle born has great safety features and just works. I have them on my website
SimpliPhi’s batteries offer the lowest levelized cost of energy (price per kWh) due to 98% efficiency, no cobalt, high depth of discharge, 10k cycles or 10 year warranty. For info on where to buy: simpliphipower.com/where-to-buy/. We have been around since 2002 & have outperformed the US Marine Corps’ battery tests. Deployed in 22+ countries to date. Since we don’t use cobalt, our batteries are some of the safest, most efficient batteries on the market. No additional costs to prevent thermal runaway or fire (associated with cobalt, which we don’t use, unlike LG Chem & Tesla) such as cooling or ventilation systems. We keep it simple, safe & efficient. :-)
I just watched a guy talk about how lead acid is more affordable but yeah... 10 lead acid deep cycle batteries are only 900 before tax while lithium tends to be around 3500 before tax so there really is a price difference there. The point you made about not allowing the batteries to fall below 70% is a strong point though; it might actually only be worth getting lead acid if that's all you could afford at the time....
Hi, Mr Will Prowse ,may I ask you about the battery bank discharging curent related the loads current
Hey, Will (or anyone knowledgeable), how can you determine the maximum discharge rate of any of these batteries (lead acid or lithium ion)? You talked about it at 3:20. I have been unable to find that info. I want to know what I can safely run off my RV batteries. Thanks!
Thanks for the video. I got my hands on some (6) used 12v 18ah 13amp batteries along with two of the same but 26 amps. I want to use them to test backup lights and stuff. Any amazon 12 volt charger will do?
I really enjoy watching your videos. By the way, you’ve got really beautiful eyes! Congrats!!!
Great informative video, thank you for all your time and effort to make these for us!
Oh, and I love the shirt!
Thanks buddy!!!!
I have followed you for a few years now, I have several lithium all in one systems (Bluetti 150) but I would like to know what AGM deep cycle battery do you recommend ???
I have heard that a few people are buying Used Lithium batteries for much cheaper than brand new ones. Since they have a very long life cycle is this not a sound tactic to pursue ? I am new to this Solar Power Generator and I feel that Will Prowse provides the best info of the socalled VanLife Rv Nomadic movement channels on TH-cam. Thanks Will for your knowledge.
Ok, I paid 150 dollars for my new Trojan 6 volt, T-145 flooded battery. Got to shop around. Got em in Michigan. I got two for my travel trailer and wired as one 12 volt battery. What's the cost for equivalent Lithium ion ones? What's the best brand to get? GreenLife, NextGen, or EarthX ??. I always thought Lithium ion batteries were better. Sealed lead acid batteries are ancient technology. Got lithiums with my Ego brand blowers. Ego company in Michigan. Another important topic is the clear, non- metal propane tanks for RVs. Thx
Great Video!
Can you please do a video about Tubular vs Lithium battery for Solar System.
Thanks
Oh also can I still use a Lithium with my VSR split charger? I am thinking with the volts not dropping it may not disconnect from the van battery? Cheers dude
Answered many of my questions. Excellent! Much thanks.
You are welcome!
You're pushing us into the future.
Heat or cold weather is the issue in the winter of say Minnesota. I’m not going to buy a subsystem to the BMS to keep them alive.
i’m so new to all these concepts but i heard about explosions with lithium - from cell phones to electric bikes to teslas - you didn’t speak to safety issues at all- is there a video you have or can do for that? including. how to avoid it - im terrified now of having it in my car while i’m in the car or whatever but is it only potentially dangerous when it’s charging?
i love your videos - you’re my top two favorite on this subject
I have 100 watt 12v solar panel on the roof of my van I would like to charge this with that puts out about 5a in direct sunlight. I need to use the battery for about 3a 12v during the day and about 2a 12v (10pm to 6a) at night. I also have a 12v cigarette lighter socket in the back of my van that is only on while I drive I would also like to charge this with. What do i need to smart charge a battery like this from BOTH of these sources without needing a manual switch? And while asking, is it possible to charge a bettary like this directly from a car alternator? If so, how?
Nice video. Do you know the difference of their charging time as i didn't hear you mention it? Which has the faster charge time?
Peace!
Excellent video. Keep em coming.
great info. thanks a lot by the way, i need to know where to find a tesla battery solar charger tracker 5 there old web site does not operate u have any suggestions.
As the former guru for Apple on lithium batteries myself, i see you know nothing about how actually easy it is to damage a lithium battery.
Do you not know what a bms is? I hope you're joking?..
@@WillProwse what is a BMS? I am not at all an expert but am under the impression that lithium batteries are pretty fragile to some things, temperature in particular.
Hi Will, interesting video. I came here to determine if I should put a lead acid or Lithium battery in my campervan for my solar charging. You convinced me to buy a lithium allready but i was just wandering how sensitive are the lithium batteries to overheating. I'm asking because i have a black van and we'll probably be driving through hot environments to. Thanks!
Hey guys, I have a 2000 watt jupiter modified sine wave inverter with a 4000 w peak with a 100 ah wiez gel lead acid battery. I have a 100/50 victron charge controller with 400 watts of solar. Can I exchange the 100ah lead acid battery i have,, with a 100 ah "ampere time" lithium 12 v battery? I need to know before I spend all that money. I hope it will run my 2000 watt inverter. The most I plan to use is a little 500 watt air conditioner. And I don't even have that yet, I just use 2 fans for now that use up about 100 watts continuous. Any replies would help, thanks guys! 🙏❤❤❤❤
Deep cycle batteries maintain voltage in cold and hot environments. You can easily hook an electronic charger system to a battery bank. because of the lower cost, you can also load balance the cells.
The only advantage of lipo batteries is weight if you are traveling, and led acid can be sourced locally without relying on the military industrial complex bombing countries for their lithium.
Lithiums cost savings is paid for in blood.
when I get a newer van ill probably go with lithium just for the space and weight savings.
also wanted to point out that you can safely discharge LiFePo4 to 20% remaining, not 0% remaining. still much better than lead acid of course, but they arent bullet proof, and the rated cycles alone makes them worth the extra cash.
my question is can they be safely charged off a 14(ish) volt supply as thats what most lead acid batteries charge at.(for split charge relays and standard mppt solar controllers)
+Andrew's Life In A Tiny Van usually the BMS prevents true 0% discharge. Usually the end point is set at 20%. So it depends.
And most plug and plug lithium batteries can easily take that voltage. Lead acid battery chargers and charge controllers work with these all plug and play type lithium batteries. Now if you make your own, I don't know. Depends on voltage of system, and charge circuit
High-tec and Frugal RV Travels with Will Prowse | ok didn't realise that the bms would act as a 20% cutoff. good to know that they're compatible with standard lead battery chargers too
I'm interested in buying an old Tesla S Battery Module, they sell on eBay for around $1300 and are 250ah and 5KW worth of energy. I need to figure out how to wire one up.
Thank you for the information! I look forward to your upcoming book.
+Wes thanks man! And sure thing :)
Are you able to combine a lithium battery to a system that has lead acid batteries?
I'm interested to know this too.
Hey, do you know any real comparaison test, live, made on a lithium VS lead acid ? Thanks !
Thanks for the info. Appreciate you sharing your knowledge.
I've been watching all your videos and love them. I cant find a definitive answer on one question. What would you suggest if the ambient temperature of the battery averages 20°F? I have a pick up truck with a cap . 100 w solar panel on the cap, a battery mounted in the bed , and a relay hooked to my starter battery (I did just purchase the Renogy 50A DC-DC battery charger with mppt) I do spend a lot of time traveling so my alternator does more charging but I do also spend time off grid at a cabin in northern michigan for 4-5 days at a time where it's cold. Trying to decide between the LiFeP04 or an AGM? Please help. I dont power anything that draws many amps.
I'm Clueless to this stuff.
Have a 16" Starcraft, we spent 2-5 days in the middle of nowhere (led lights, camera/raidios charging & a propane heater fan) is about all we use. Can a Lithium Battery just be dropped in to replace a Led Acid? or is there other changes to be made?
The current batt. is charged when the trailer is plugged in or when portable solar is connected to it.
How is the 2024 lithium battery technology in cold weather?
I had a 150ah Lifepo4 delivered 4 days ago and havent gotten it above 13.4 yet clouds and rain wont cut me any slack 😂
Love the new house. Could you do a comparason between lithium and lead carbon
batteries? Look forward to your next vlog
good explanation
What size of lithium battery do I need for a house that consumes 2 kWh per month? Could you advise me on all the equipment I need to supply the 2 kWh please.
Correction 200 kWh?
Wil, do you need a special charge controller or solar panel for lithium batteries?
+Nomadic Newfies usually. Most lithium battery banks are simply plug n play and can be used with lead acid battery chargers and solar charge controllers. But if you build your own battery, then it depends on what you are using.
Great To Know About The Comparison Of Lead Acid To Lithium Ion Batteries! The Only Drawback I See Is The Temperature Sensitivity Of The Lithium Battery. Otherwise Lithium Is The Way To Go! Question! When Will The Price Go Down For Lithium Batteries So It Will Be Economical For The Joe Blow Consumer Such As Myself? Otherwise Great Video!
This is great info. Thanks for sharing, Will, most appreciated.
Very informative... I share it with anyone that may be a bit confused when it comes to Lead acid vS Lithium iron phosphate batteries. IAm waiting and hoping lithium iron battery prices drop dramatically by next summer... don't need it now... Thankhz so much for sharing Will... Wholeness n Love ((-;
Hello, Will! you are great!!!!! glad you are out there. I might at some point actually sort of maybe maybe, understand about 10%. ha! I AM GOING TO EHRENBERG IN A MONTH OR SO SO I HAVE AQUESTION: i WANT TO USE ELECTRIC SKILLET AND COFFEE MAKER, (I.E. ALL ELECTRIC) 5K AIR CONDITIONING UNIT.....HOW MUCH DO I NEED IN SOLAR, BATTERIES, ETC? THX, TIKI AND ANYTHING ELSE YOU CAN ANSWER THAT I DON'T HAVE THE SENSE TO ASK.
Hey Will!!
Bro! I was wondering if you could please help me with this, im about to make my next vid for my channel about connecting the BMV 712 volt meter and a lithium battery but dont want to burn out my camper lol so i have some questions ....:
1..can i connect my 100 amp hour Battle Born Battery to my Kodiak to charge it? I've heard i can just connect lead acid batteries to the Kodiak, but just wanted to triple check. Now since the answer is going to be no, keep reading...
2... i have four 122 amp hours lead batteries as my battery bank (ever ready deep cicle ) , i charge all of them with the kodiak when connected to solar, however when is super cloudy i disconnect the cable that comes from the panels and also disconnect my four lead acid batteries from the kodiak, and connect my camper to my gas generator and then from the outlets of the the camper i connect the kodiak so it can charge and i let my lead acid batteries charge with the charger that comes with the camper, you know, it charges the battery while is plugged to the generator,.... now the REAL REAL question here is...
Can i connect the Battle born battery and my lead acid batteries directly to the camper and connect the Kodiak to the cables that you can connect to the truck to charge the batterie of the camper while the truck is on with the alternator,... but instead it will be connected to the positive and negative of the Kodiak so batteries can charge with my solar system...., idk if im explaining my self the right way lol.
According to my logic, since the battle born battery will be conncted in parallel with my other 4 lead acid batteries,to the connection that comes from the charger of the camper i shouldn't have any problems connecting the Kodiak on the other end where you connect the car to charge the batteries because the lithium batteries and the other batteries they will not be directly connected to the Kodiak, but in between the kodiak and the battery bank will be the inverter of the camper....
Thanks man, ill be waiting for your advice!
A lot of good information.
would you recommend lithium batteries for living in a van in Canada where temperatures are often below -25 degree celcius?
Sure, store it in the living area so you can keep them warm. Lithium iron phosphate batteries are safe to store indoors. Check out the one on my website under battery banks
batteries must be kept warm tho? the vehicle will often be cold
@@jonathansreynolds So you won't have a heat source of any kind that will keep the vehicle warmer than the battery's minimum temp requirement?
good Sales Pitch!
remember: "Lead is Dead"
Dear will, I have few questions to you. Currently in have an 12v 1100va hybrid inverter, 12v 150w of 2panels (connected in parallel),12v 150ah tubular lead acid battery. The inverter is having pwm charge controller.
Now after watching your videos, I want to replace the lead acid battery with a lifepo4(pack of 198ah,not prismatic). The nominal voltage of lifepo4 battery would be 12.8v(4s).
Now the real problem is, the inverter having an dip switch selection in its backside for various options like
1)Battery type - TUB, SMF
2)Battery cut off voltage-10. 5v & 11.0v(+/-0.2v)
3)Battery charging amps-5, 10,15A(only for grid charging,not for solar)
As per your experience, what would be the best setting?
Currently for Tubular battery, during charging the maximum voltage obtained was 14.6v.Hence I'm thinking that 3.65*4=14.6, the pack will not get over charged.
In future I will install an Epever 4210 along with 4 numbes of 24v/320w panels to the lifepo4 battery bank.
Kindly reply to my above question, I'm from India🇮🇳. Here lifepo4 battery & Epever charge controller are not available, need to be import along with high custom duties. Thinking for an fully offgrid system of 48v.but needs a lot of money (above 200K indian rupees/2.87K$) that I can't able to adjust.
I’m SO THANKFUL for your inspirations and contributions to the advances in learning solar and battery building. But,,,, Your book is outdated and you don’t disable videos that are outdated. The latest and best advances in solar design are currently dependent on LIPO batteries - LEAD IS DEAD! I love and respect you so much - Please retire these outdated videos so us “Newbies” don’t get mislead into learning outdated information. It’s already hard to figure out and we need someone we can TRUST to keep the most current info available. Remember, I love and respect you and appreciate all you’ve taught me already.
can you mix these two
Appreciate how you don't waste time with extra words, instantly getting down to business, no hemming and hawing and uuhhhing. A lot of video makers think we're here to be entertained instead of educated. Good on ya!
Great informations.Ha,Ha...But he wearing a DuckTale Cartoon T shirt that bring me back to my late teen years in the 90s.I was laughing at first,because I saw and look at his talking presentation with the Duck Tale T shirt.